My Fave Off-White Cream Paint Colour – Creamy
I always get a giggle when my E-design clients say that they love cream, but don’t love yellow. Why is that so funny? Well, because a) I’m easily amused when I’ve had 2 glasses of wine and b) because, without yellow – there is no cream!
Creamy behind the mirror and on the wall in the reflection
The basic idea behind cream is that you start out with a light yellow paint colour and you add a neutral base to it, like beige/black/gray. Once you start doing that, your ‘yellow’ turns into a cream. The more neutral you mix into it, the less yellow it gets until you eventually have beige or greige. You’ll also find creams with notes of orange, red or green in them, adding more layers of flexibility.
Now, if you’ve read my colour review on BM Gentle Cream, you’ll have learned about a ‘heavy cream’ – a cream that is not ‘fresh and light’, but has a bit of weight to it. You might have also explored my review of BM Ballet White, which is on the very EDGE of cream/beige/greige. So today, we’re going to talk about a DIFFERENT type of cream – one on the lighter, fresher end of the scale – Sherwin Williams Creamy.
The Undertones of Creamy
YELLOW! Surprise surprise! Well, actually, yellow is its ‘colour’, but what it has is a NEUTRAL undertone that calms it down, so that it’s not day-glo yellow – it’s cream.
It also has a tiny touch of an orange feel, via the beige in it, which stops it from being as yellow toned as SW Dover White (which I find a touch too yellow, personally).
The LRV of Creamy
If you aren’t familiar with LRV, you should read this, it’s a game changer when choosing colours – trust the Ginger. The basic idea is that the higher the LRV number is, the lighter a colour is; the lower the LRV number is, the darker the colour is. Creamy has an LRV of 81, which in the colour world is PRETTY DARNED HIGH and plants it nicely in the off-white range.
Creamy in a South Facing Room
South facing light is a warm, yellow light. This light will enhance warm colours, bringing out their glorious warmth. So, when you put Creamy in a south facing room, you can expect that creamy yellow warmth to rise UP and become more noticeable. You may find a similar effect in the afternoon in a west facing room.
These 2 photos show the ABSOLUTE warmest Creamy will look (south facing/warm bulbs)
The same thing will happen in the evening if you have warm bulbs in your fixtures, as shown below.
Read more: The Best Paint Colours for a South Facing Room
Creamy in a North Facing Room
I LOVE Creamy in a north facing space, I feel like that’s where it’s at its very best. Northern light is a gray light with a blue cast. This light calms Creamy right down, so it acts like a soft, subtle warm – almost not creamy colour. There is still residual warmth in it, but it’s not noticeably ‘yellow’. (You may find a similar effect in an east facing room).
Shown here with BM Cloud White trim
And take a moment to look at those last 2 photos. Same area, but the top photo is in the evening and the bottom photo is in the daytime – just shows you how much colour changes throughout the day!
Read more: The Best Paint Colours for a North Facing Room
Creamy in a Dark Room
Well, I’ve said it before, and because I like to hear myself talk, I’ll say it again…
‘If you have a dark room, there is no paint colour that will save you’ – Moi
You need to improve your interior lighting before you can find a paint colour that will work. Sure, Creamy will ‘help’ and might reflect a bit of the minimal natural or artificial light it’s given, but don’t expect it to work wonders if it’s not GIVEN enough light.
Creamy in a Bright Room
Well, with that killer high LRV, you can totally expect Creamy to wash-out on a well-lit wall – particularly at the height of day with direct sunlight on it. In a ‘generally’ bright room, it will hold itself as a soft warm white/off-white as long as it has some white (trim/cabinets) to contrast with.
Creamy on Trim
This is where you want to be careful. Whereas Creamy is gorgeous on walls, it’s a tougher sell on the trim. Because it has that creamy warmth, it’s a harder one to partner up with paint colours on the walls compared to more flexible whites and off-whites.
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Read more:
Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream
Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Ballet White
I will add that creamy is a great exterior trim color. It’s not too white and it doesn’t go yellow, like say BM linen white. I personally think it’s got a teensy bit of green in it.
Loved this article! How does Sherwin William’s Antique White compare to Gentle Cream? Is it between Creamy and Gentle Cream? I’ve run across several pictures of Antique White and really like it. Thanks!
My entryway and front hall (which face East) are painted Sherwin Willians “creamy” and it’s so beautiful! I love it! It’s such a pretty color! My trim is Sherwin Williams “Extra White” and the rest of downstairs is painted Revere Pewter. The colors look nice together!
Our builder’s default trim color was Creamy (2009) and it worked with the colors and finishes used then. Now that we have updated our wall colors to brighter/fresher, we will be painting all the trim–mostly because of Creamy’s extreme variability. In some rooms, Creamy is fine and looks fairly “white” and in others it looks dingy or oddly, gray. I think Creamy is a color that has to be really really tested in context and next to any hard finishes. Just my 2 cents 😉
Ooo yes, it is a tricky one! It’s all about exposure and ‘what it’s with’. And it’s a tough one on trim too, I always find it interesting when builders veer away from more standard whites – personally, I think Creamy is best for walls only!
I’ve heard that Creamy is the closest color to the “white” furniture from Pottery Barn. Would you agree with that or is there another color that is a better match?
Hi Mary Ann, I’m just not sure, unfortunately we don’t have a Pottery Barn here!
Can Sherwin Williams “Alabaster” be used for trim with Creamy on the walls? Is there enough contrast using both together?
Yes, it would be soft and subtle, but quite pretty! I might ask them to add 4 ounces of white to Alabaster, which just cleans it up a wee wink (and improves the coverage of it too).
Hi. I have Creamy trim and doors. I am painting the kitchen cabinets and walls. I am leaning toward Albaster. Why do you recommend making it more white? I don’t get a lot of light. Thanks.
Hi Carol! Well, some people find that it’s just a touch too warm/creamy and the 4 ounces can just clean it up a stitch. Whites also don’t always cover well, and the 4 ounces can help with that!
Hi Kylie, I always find your articles fun and interesting, thank you!
I have been on the hunt for a warm off-white paint color for the majority of my main floor. I’m currently testing SW Creamy on few walls but unfortunately, it’s not quite ‘it’, I think I would like it just a smidge less yellow but still warm and maybe a bit more neutral – any suggestions?
I, like you have a weakness for creamy colors, I had Gentle Cream for 15 years and loved it. Finding the right ‘white’ is honestly the most challenging color I have ever picked. When searching the web, I always find similar suggestions for whites – Dove White, Simply White, Decorator’s White etc. It would be nice to see suggestions for some other whites that are maybe not quite as ‘white’. Maybe – Gasp light beige! Ok ok, maybe we could call it sand. Yes, an off-white or sandy white, a white that looks lovely with wood tones, one that would be beautiful in a cottage or farmhouse. One with enough depth to show some contrast next to white trim (mine closely resembles BM Snowfall White) but is still light and fresh. With all the white right now, it would be nice to see more ideas for whitish wall paint colors. Are you pondering anything? If so, please share your wisdom.
Thanks so much, Susan in Alberta
Hi Susan, I wonder if you might like SW White Duck perhaps????!
I’ll have a look at White Duck, thanks so much! White is tough!
I plan on painting my split-level home in SW agreeable gray. what’s your opinion on SW network gray for west facing kitchen, dining room and hallway walls? the blue undertone in it looks nice next to my oak cabinets and trim.( based on the swatch ) , my only concern is if it will fall flat in the hallway.(not much natural light). Glad I found your site and videos. I’ve learned a lot. Thanks!
Hi Kylie,
I just painted my bedroom in Creamy after reading your review of the color. Is your bedroom/ or do you happen to have any photos of bedrooms painted this color? I’d love to see some photos for inspiration for decorating. Thanks for creating such helpful and thorough reviews. You are so helpful!!
HOoray, another Creamy lover! Unfortunately, I don’t have any bedrooms in Creamy, but I would love some (hint hint…)
Hi Kylie! Love your site…I have been on it all evening….thinking of using Creamy in my front hall and west facing living room but not sure which SW white to use as a trim colour. I’ve always used BM Cloud White, but my painter uses SW products.
I want some contrast between the two colours….maybe Pure White? Or Alabaster? We’re looking to sell the house.
Thanks!
Thank you Julie! With Creamy I also like Cloud White, but Alabaster would be a pretty choice!
Ok we’re buying a house that has Creamy on the trim and gold walls. We’re painting the walls and leaving the creamy trim to help the cost. Should I do the walls creamy as well or a light light warmer grey?! Ahhh
Hi Krystal, you can do the walls Creamy as well or a light soft gray, just knowing that Creamy will slightly enhance the gray and the gray will enhance Creamy!
Hi Kylie!
Thank goodness for your willingness to share your expertise! Choosing paint color is not my strength,, so I am reading everything I can find. Our east/west facing home has honey oak baseboards and doors, that is what was “in” when we built our home…sigh. Painting the baseboards and doors are not currently an option….double sigh & roll my eyes, so my paint color expedition has been quite perplexing. We will be painting the entire first floor-two-story entry, dining, living, and kitchen areas. These rooms flow into one another, so we are looking for one fabulous color. These areas are entirely done in Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors.
As I type, painted on my walls are the following color patches: SW Creamy, SW Steamed Milk, SW Patience, SW Moderate White, and SW Natural Linen…our home looks like a fun-house. 🙂 I’m not a fan of walls that scream yellow, but I know there is yellow in some of these colors.
I would greatly appreciate any guidance your could provide! (My husband will thank you too!)
Hi Patty, thank you! You know, when it comes to personal questions, I do refer to my E-design services. I try to give as much helpful, complimentary advice on my blog, and if that doesn’t help, it might be time for me to look at some photos and spend some time with your room! If you’re interested, I’d love to help! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
This was soooo helpful! My husband and I just bought a house and I have been stressing about pairing creamy with white trim. I was afraid that painting the walls creamy and the trim white would look like an oops but your post has convinced me otherwise! We have a living room with gorgeous stained wood trim that I don’t want to paint and creamy looks soo good with it! But the sunroom is right off the living room and has painted trim. What SW white do you recommend for the painted trim throughout the house? I like a good white white trim and may even paint the kitchen cabinets the same white.
THANK YOU!
Hi Medora, take a look at SW Pure White, it’s pretty awesome!
Creamy is a miracle-worker! We just purchased an 80s home and doing a total reno of the small master bath isnt priority as everything is functional…. but SW Creamy just went up after reading this & your article on beige/almond fixtures. Salesman tried to suggest Alabaster but I was armed with your expertise and knew it wouldn’t work. It’s been about 3 weeks and I still cant believe the difference… Creamy brightened the room and tied together ALL the different shades of brown: multitonal brown stone shower tiles, beige marbled floor, dark brown vanity, 80s beige countertop perfectly with the white toilet and tub. Creamy basically neutralized everything, and calmed the room down to just look more intentional and cohesive. It definitely is yellowy, but goes away against the browns, and it’s not dingy. We used SW extra white on the small amount of trim and the door. A sincere thank you for your very specific and insightful guidance via these articles and comment sections!
What do you think of kitchen cabinets painted creamy in a partly west facing kitchen? The rest of the room will also be warm with dark stained wood floors, a dark stained island and dark stained woodwork on windows with a soapstone counter and white quartz counter on island?
I am looking for a white for the exterior of my stucco house. I want a slight off white (not stark white) but not too beige or too yellow. Would creamy work?
Hi Corinne! It really does depend on your roof/stone/brick/window colour and exposure, but generally, I think Creamy is too yellow. Take a look at BM White Dove or SW Alabaster which aren’t off-whites, but are warm whites. In the off-white range, I’d hit up SW White Duck, but once you hit the off-white range you WILL see more colour (beige/greige/cream) 🙂
I first discovered SW Creamy almost 11 years ago when I had the entire interior of my home repainted that color. I love it so much, that when it was time for a refresh, yep, I used Creamy once again. I am a big blue and white fan, and my pieces pop with the Creamy background. Love, love, love it!
I know, right?! It is such a stinkin’ gorgeous colour! I loved it in our last home and was disappointed when it didn’t totally suit our current home – if you love warm colours, this is a winner!
So glad I found your website!! You really have the most comprehensive explanations of paint colors I have seen and you are spot on. I was trying to figure out a color for my 2 story/vaulted ceiling living / dining room, stairway and loft that is mostly north facing with 1 east and 1 west window. I first tried repose grey and just like your post said it could, it came out very blue. I decided to go with your recommendation here of creamy (at 75% because I had 1 walk showing a little too yellow for my liking) and it is perfect!! Not a stark white, not cream but just a slight hint of warmth. I decided on sw extra white for trim. Lastly I need to figure out the ceiling. What did you paint your ceiling in your house? Or what ceiling color do you recommend for a vaulted ceiling to go with creamy?
Hi Lindsay, I just LOVE notes like this! As for white, I chose BM Cloud White – I liked the warmth and how it sat with Creamy. You can also look at SW Alabaster, which is soft and warm, but I might ask them to add 4-6 drops of white to the gallon, just to clean it up a stitch :).